Meaning: 1. A mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms; the opposite of parasitism in which one organ benefits at the expense of its host. 2. More broadly, any mutually beneficial or dependent relationship.

Notes: The relationship indicated by this word is a symbiotic one. A member of such a mutually beneficial relationship is either an simbiont or symbiote. The plural of this word is symbioses, usually referring to different kinds of symbiotic relationships. Millions of symbiotic microbes live all over our skin, cleaning up dirt, debris, and oils. Their relationship is called ectosymbiosis because they live on the outside of us. Termites are known to have endosymbiotic bacteria in their intestines that help digest the wood eaten by termites.

In Play: The termite example suggests further uses like this: "I don't know why you say my brother is a parasite just because he is living with us. Since he reduces our food and alcohol intake, you could just as easily see it as a symbiotic relationship." Joking aside, this is a very lovely word with a lovely sense: "Their relationship was more than a marriage, it was a symbiotic relationship."

Word History: This word is made up of 3 parts: sym "with, together" + bio "life, living" + osis "a condition". The prefix-preposition sym is found in many words, such as symphony, a group of sounds together, and sympathy, the kindness of sharing the burden of a tragedy together with someone. Bio- is found in many words, such as biology, the scientific study of life, and biography

To my mind, the opposite of symbiosis would not be parasitism, in which one organism profits at the expense of another with which it co-exists, but rather one in which both organisms suffered as a result of that co-existence. I know of no term for this state, but to any fellow Agorists who believe it to be adequately described by the term «marriage», remember : you said so !...

M. Henri Day wrote:To my mind, the opposite of symbiosis would not be parasitism, in which one organism profits at the expense of another with which it co-exists, but rather one in which both organisms suffered as a result of that co-existence. I know of no term for this state...

M. Henri Day wrote:To my mind, the opposite of symbiosis would not be parasitism, in which one organism profits at the expense of another with which it co-exists, but rather one in which both organisms suffered as a result of that co-existence. I know of no term for this state...